West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
(File photo courtesy Laura James)
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James, who long has worked on the sea-star die-off mystery as a “citizen scientist,” for the tip on this: New scientific research says a virus is the likely culprit in the deaths of so many of what are commonly known as starfish. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) published a report this afternoon, pointing to the research paper itself (read it here), which concludes, “Based on our observations, the densovirus, SSaDV, is the most likely virus involved in this disease.” However, the researchers note, this isn’t a new virus, so they still don’t have the big picture of what’s happening and what it might lead to.
P.S. It’s been a year since Diver Laura first pointed out die-off evidence on West Seattle shores/in West Seattle waters, and she’s continuing to follow up on what’s happening now.
With public funding of schools falling short, community and corporate goodwill is more vital than ever to help students keep up. The latest example was shown off this morning in Landon Bell‘s kindergarten classroom at Lafayette Elementary in The Admiral District. The “kindergarten technologists” in our photos are using Snap Circuits (shown and explained here) to explore electrical engineering, creating working machines on circuit boards.
Lafayette got the Snap Circuits via a request on the crowdfunding site for teachers, DonorsChoose.org, one of 19 projects at 15 Seattle schools that were funded in a donation by AT&T, according to the announcement of this morning’s demonstration.
Many DonorsChoose projects are funded by individual community contributions, but as was the case here, the corporate community jumps in too – you might recall the Google announcement at Highland Park Elementary last month. Much other supplementary funding comes via events organized by schools’ PTAs (at Lafayette, last month’s Walk-A-Thon – with community sponsors including WSB – raised $60,000 in pledges).
P.S. If you’re interested in donating to classroom projects, DonorsChoose is searchable by zip code, and our quick check shows lots of current requests from local teachers.
(Looking south along 35th SW, by Long B. Nguyen – click image to see larger view)
As we wing into a new week … calendar (etc.) highlights:
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP AT SW LIBRARY: Love to read? Local libraries convene afternoon/evening book groups now and then. 2 pm today at Southwest Branch Library, this month’s afternoon group is reading “Rat Girl” by Kristin Hersh. (35th/Henderson)
THANKSGIVING COOKING CLASS AT SALTY’S ON ALKI: Check ASAP to see if there’s room left – in any of the three sessions, starting with tonight at 6 pm, featuring Salty’s (WSB sponsor) Chef Jeremy McLachlan – details in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)
SPEAKING OF COOKING … voted for Carmen yet? We told her story over the weekend – she’s a local fourth-grader and the only national finalist from the Northwest in a cooking contest for kids. Find the link to her recipe video and voting page here (you can do it daily, until just before Thanksgiving, and there are NO requirements – no signups, registration, social-media shares, etc.).
TRIVIA, TRIVIA, TRIVIA: Monday’s the night to show what you know – at multiple West Seattle venues, including Christo’s, OutWest, Shadowland, and Skylark. Go directly to our calendar
Before we get to what’s up today/tonight, here’s an advance alert about an event tomorrow night – Ben shares the invitation for the first West Seattle Hack Night:
We’re inviting local professional and amateur programmers to come out to a West Seattle Hack Night. The purpose of the meetup is to connect technologists in West Seattle, share information, network, and collaborate to make something cool or useful. We’d also welcome any non-profits or local businesses are looking for tech help or just want to pitch an idea for people to work on.
It starts with meet-and-greet at 6:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 18) at West Seattle Office Junction (6040 California SW; WSB sponsor) – if you’re interested, here’s where to sign up.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Aside from some early delays on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route, traffic and transit have been more-or-less normal so far in our area this morning.
You’ve probably heard about the neighborhood-by-neighborhood policing plans that are a priority for the city’s new Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole. At various neighborhood-council meetings since she came to Seattle, we’ve seen those plans take shape, and the most recent one was this past week’s monthly meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council:
It’s been spotlighted on the SDOT website … it was brought up at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting … and we’ve received a nudge from the city about it: If you have anything to say to the city about the microsurfacing work on Arbor Heights this past summer, please take a few minutes and answer this online survey – which also gets into the broader topic of microsurfacing vs. chip seal vs. full road replacement (and even sidewalks).
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
With multiple football games on screens in the background, co-proprietors of The Westy shared the news they wish they could have shared many months ago: Their official opening date.
It’ll be Wednesday, November 26th, JP Vidican and Paul Ritums (L-R above) told WSB today. That’s when The Westy will finally open its doors at 7908 35th SW, a new establishment that looks nothing like what you’d imagine – in either space or decor – from passing by on the street, where you’d mistake it for a relatively tiny storefront (recent former identities included an electronics-repair shop and medical-marijuana dispensary).
November was the hoped-for opening month when we first talked with them in summer 2013 – November **2013**. Permit and utility challenges stretched out the buildout, like the final minutes of a sports match with seemingly endless timeouts.
Now they’re ready for kickoff, and hoping you’ll decide The Westy was worth the wait. We took a look inside this afternoon, noting details from the handcrafted wooden tables to small-but-vital touches like purse hooks and power outlets under the bar with USB slots where you can charge your phone:
Of course we talked sports, food, and beverages too:
Your next chance to shop multiple vendors in one spot, as holiday-gift season approaches, is happening right now, until 5 pm, at West Seattle Sip and Shop. You’ll find the bazaar at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (California/Hanford), as previewed in our daily calendar-highlights list. Thanks to Emily for sharing the photo (she mentions you’ll find nearly 30 vendors there, plus wine and cookies)!
1:21 PM: First, to be clear if you haven’t been following this closely, former NFL player Sam Adams is no longer the owner of the gym at 2629 SW Andover – as part of his bankruptcy proceedings, he gave up the lease three weeks ago, after announcing the then-West Seattle Club would be closed for two days; it reopened a week and a half later under a “new” owner – the landlord – and a new name, West Seattle Health Club. Here are two updates, one relating to the ex-ownership, one relating to the new:
ADAMS BANKRUPTCY NOW CHAPTER 7: Originally, Adams and his wife filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in late June, days before an eviction hearing related to the fitness center, which he had purchased for $75,000 as part of its previous owner’s business-bankruptcy case in early 2013. As reported here October 28th, the federal trustee proposed either dismissing the case or converting it to Chapter 7 for reasons including the Adamses’ failure to file mandatory financial reports since the filing. They have since filed reports, but at a hearing this past Friday, according to bankruptcy-court documents, they also voluntarily agreed to have the case converted to Chapter 7. (As explained here, the difference between 7 and 11 can be described as “liquidation” vs. “rehabilitation.”)
NEW CLUB UPDATE: The long comment thread following our previous report, from the West Seattle Health Club’s opening date on November 4th, continues to include questions from customers past and present. A club employee e-mailed to say he has started an unofficial Facebook page in the club’s name, where he’s posting information, since the club’s “placeholder” website has yet to be updated. Find it here.
COVERAGE ARCHIVE … all our coverage of what’s transpired relating to the 2629 SW Andover club, under four names over the past 2 years, is archived here, newest to oldest.
ADDED 7:51 PM: While writing this, we e-mailed WSHC VP Dan Lehr with a few questions, to which he has replied. Most importantly, he says, he expects to update its website this week, now that they have “firm ship dates” for equipment that’s on order, as well as firming up other operational details. Our other question was about the pool; Lehr says, “The cold weather has slowed our painting in the pool area. I won’t be able to give a firm date on the pool completion until I receive our quotes to fix the pool equipment. Hopefully I’ll have that by Wednesday. … Unfortunately the HVAC over the pool was in such a state of disrepair we had to order an entirely new system. I’ll have an ETA on that later this week as well and will update the site.”
(WSB file photo: Junction Tree Lighting, part of an expanded celebration this year, December 6th)
Shop local, celebrate local! The schedule is out for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored again this year by WSB), with events that have become annual traditions over the years, plus something new:
SMALL-BUSINESS SATURDAY: Never mind “Black Friday.” The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29th, is a day that local independent merchants will be especially thrilled to see you.
‘SHOP LATE’ THURSDAYS: Many Junction retailers will stay open until 9 pm on December 4th, 11th (which is also the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk), and 18th.
NEW – JUNCTION HOLIDAY PARTY ON TREE-LIGHTING NIGHT: In addition to the 5 pm tree-lighting event on Saturday, December 6th, there will be a “progressive party” at Junction retailers, 4-8 pm, so you can shop and revel before and after the ceremony. Promises the WSJA website, “You’ll find nibbles, drinks, games, and deals all wrapped up with holiday flair.” More details as it gets closer.
SANTA MEET-AND-GREET: BYO camera for two special Sundays – 10 am-2 pm on both – December 7th at City Mouse (4218 SW Alaska) and December 21st on the southwest corner of California/Alaska.
CARRIAGE RIDES: The Belgian Draft Mules return for two Sundays – 10 am on both – December 7th and 14th.
Full Hometown Holidays details are here; we’ll see you there!
(Alki Beach promenade’s west end, by Laura Goodrich, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Happy Sunday! Some of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, every Sunday of the year. (44th/Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND GIFT FAIR: 11 am-2 pm, final chance to shop this elegant sale at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE SIP & SHOP: 2-5 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church – details and vendors in our calendar listing. (California/Hanford)
‘CURIOUS SAVAGE’ AT SLHS: 2:30 pm, the final performance of the Seattle Lutheran High School Drama Club presentation of “The Curious Savage,” in the school gym – details in our calendar listing. (4100 SW Genesee)
FAMILY MUSIC CONCERT WITH CHARLIE HOPE: 4 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Church in Gatewood – find out more about Charlie here; suggested donation and other details in our calendar listing. (California/Othello)
SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: Can’t make all those evening community meetings? Here’s one in the heart of Sunday afternoon. Come find out the latest about the campaign to keep city-owned properties (such as former West Seattle substations) as open space. 2:45 pm, High Point Branch Library. (35th/Raymond)
AND OF COURSE THERE’S MORE … if you take a minute to browse the full calendar page for today.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:53 AM SUNDAY: Just before 9 pm, Kevin tweeted about that water break on 52nd SW just south of Charlestown. We checked it out (and recorded that quick clip of water bubbling up through the street) just before 1 am – and Seattle Public Utilities hadn’t been there yet. Another neighbor, Andrew, who also had tweeted about it, told us neighbors were moving their cars in hopes of avoiding the inevitable ice – the temperature’s already at the freezing mark and expected to drop into the 20s before sunrise. This is just before the Charlestown Hill drop toward Alki. We’ll check back after sunrise.
9 AM UPDATE: Still going at dawn, per yet another neighbor.
11:08 AM UPDATE: Jeffro mentioned another water break in comments. We found it at 53rd/Dakota – similar situation, water bubbling up from the street, so we Instagrammed it:
SPU had been there and also to 52nd/Charlestown, where we stopped again, painted some notes on the street, and, according to 52nd SW neighbors, said they’d be back:
3:28 PM: Tweeted update from the neighborhood:
@akm @westseattleblog @christyandk @SeattleSPU @wildegoose1 we have heavy equipment here pic.twitter.com/AfaznyaG08
— kevin ziemer (@kevzum) November 16, 2014
What makes West Seattle livable and healthy? Facilitator Maketa Wilborn asked the question toward the start of today’s Gathering of Neighbors at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. And he gathered a group of attendees into a circle to offer one word about what they were expecting from the day’s event:
Expectations for this year would have differed from the past; some years, the community-building event included a resource fair – many local organizations and agencies holding court at tables/booths so attendees could roam to at will – but this time, it was a deeper dive into four topics and two projects. If you wanted to talk about transportation problems and solutions, you could have huddled with West Seattle Transportation Coalition leaders:
Land use, development, growth interest you more? The recently launched West Seattle Land Use Committee was recruited to head up that topic:
Public safety and crime prevention were on the docket in another room, organized by the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network and including Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn:
And in a fourth room, your editor here accepted the invitation to present information about getting connected and staying informed:
We created a sort of mini-directory of West Seattle organizations and places for the occasion, as well as a one-pager about best practices when trying to get the word out about something, and will publish it here on WSB within a few days (after we add links for everything on the list!). That also was a suggestion of Gathering of Neighbors organizers – local community leaders under the umbrella VIEWS (Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle) – asking presenters to make resources available, so once there are links, we’ll help get the word out about them here too.
Back to what people were saying about that sense of West Seattle pride – some samples of the written record:
(Thanks to whomever gave us the shoutout on this one!)
Before the final sessions – focusing on two city projects now in the planning stages, Fauntleroy Boulevard and the North Delridge Action Plan – facilitator Wilborn climbed a ladder in the Youngstown hallway to put up the “graphic chart” that he’d created from what had been said so far:
(He promised that’ll eventually be available via his website, too.) At the heart of all this was “showing up,” as one of the participants in our discussion put it. Whenever, however, you can show up to help move your community a little further along, you make a big difference.
Congratulations to Carmen Gray, who is the only Pacific Northwest contender in the final round of a kids’ cooking contest. 
She and 24 others are in the running for the Ben’s Beginners grand prize – $30,000 for their school cafeteria, and $15,000 for the winner. Carmen is a 4th grader at Fairmount Park Elementary; her family explains that the prize money for the school can be used at its discretion: “Some possible uses are: a learning garden, composting program, and/or healthy food related artwork for the bare walls. As you know, the school is new and while we have all the basics, it is pretty stark in the cafeteria.” The contest sponsors also will present “a hometown celebration with an appearance by NY Chef Marcus Samuelsson.” Carmen entered by making a video for her recipe “Brown Rice Bean Burger” (using the sponsor’s product) and now needs votes to win. You can see her video and vote (no strings attached – you don’t have to sign up for anything, register, or take social-media action) by going here daily until November 26th. Good luck, Carmen!
Three weeks from today, right about this time in the afternoon, dozens and dozens of local kids will be returning home with many reasons to smile after the annual Rotary Club of West Seattle Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. In addition to raising money and organizing volunteers for this year’s spree – the 43rd! – the West Seattle Rotary had one more big task: Find a new location – since SODO Sears was closing, as announced in February. They’ve found one, and this year, when the shopping spree – which also involves food, music, and Santa – starts bright and early Saturday, December 6th, it’ll be happening at Sears (and Rainforest Café) in Southcenter. You can contribute to help cover the costs – there’s a link on this page of the Rotary website.
In Fauntleroy, two holiday sale/bazaar events happening now are right across the street from each other. First – it’s the second of three days for the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Fair at Fauntleroy Church. Visitors were serenaded by the church’s music director Bron Edwards:
Artists whose work is being shown and sold include Bill Reiswig, who created this:
The art/gift fair at the church (9140 California SW) continues until 4 pm today, and is open again 11 am-2 pm tomorrow (Sunday). Across the street, today’s your only chance to visit the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse‘s second annual holiday/winter bazaar, with baked treats for sale right inside the front door:
The historic schoolhouse’s beautiful hall is where you’ll find most of the vendors and artists.
This event also continues until 4 pm. And while you’re there, admire the raingarden and its metal art outside, as well as the renovation work the schoolhouse (9131 California SW) has been under going.
Cool stocking-stuffer (or other mini-gift) ideas at the Highland Park Improvement Club holiday bazaar, happening right now inside HPIC at 12th/Holden. The map switchplates feature West Seattle neighborhoods as well as other towns/cities (not just the NW – we found one for Fairfield/Vacaville, Calif., whose radio station employed your editor here, long ago). Another table features buttons, mugs, and other local-logo creations:
Lots of other handmade items – including caramels!
Treat-wise, you’ll also find a bake sale. Then there’s jewelry, body-care and fragrance products, wearables … This is a one-day-only bazaar, so get there before 3 pm.
Girls and boys ages 8-12 who want to have fun being community ambassadors are invited to apply – right now! – to be part of the next West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court. As outlined on the flyer you can browse above, the application deadline is less than two weeks away; interviews are on December 3rd, and the new court will be coronated on December 8th. The application form is linked from this page of the Hi-Yu website. Good luck!
(Duwamish River, photographed by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Help Women’s Enterprises International, a Seattle-based nonprofit that helps groups in Kenya working on clean water for families there, by having breakfast 8:30 am-11:30 am at West Side Presbyterian – details in our calendar listing. (3601 California SW)
GATHERING OF NEIGHBORS: 9 am-1 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, connect with people and issues shaping the present and future on the peninsula. But you don’t have to be there for the entire four hours – the 10 am-11 am sessions (your choice) on public safety, transportation, land use, and “getting connected” are at the heart of it, as explained here and on the official flyer:
Free. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-11:30 am, prospective students and their families are invited to visit Explorer West MS (WSB sponsor) for an interactive tour and to try out activities. Details in our calendar listing. (10015 28th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 10 am-3 pm, go see what local creations you might find at HPIC‘s one-day-only holiday bazaar. (12th/Holden)
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FINE ART AND GIFT FAIR: 10 am-4 pm, second of two days for the art-and-gift extravaganza at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Right across the street, also 10 am-4 pm, the second annual holiday bazaar at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. (9131 California SW)
HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING: From Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals:
Two inspiring figures in the history of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society will be celebrated at the organization’s 30th anniversary Annual Meeting. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon today at the Southwest branch of Seattle Public Library, 9010 35th SW. Refreshments will be served.
The organization will honor the memory of art teacher Joan Bailey Mraz, co-founder of the historical society with Elliott Couden in 1984, and of newspaper publisher Jerry Robinson, who served as a founding board member. Also on the agenda will be the election of officers and new board members for 2015, along with changes in the organization’s bylaws. Members are encouraged to attend, and the public is welcome.
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO COOK THANKSGIVING DINNER? Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) is one of your options, and it’s offering you the chance to taste the turkey and fixins during a “Taste” event 4 pm-7 pm. (41st/42nd/Admiral)
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: Theater, music, more – see the individual listings here.
Literacy starts early! And it can so often be fun – as it was Friday at West Seattle Montessori School and Academy (WSB sponsor), where students/staff got “a wonderful visit,” says assistant director Heather Aquino (who shared the photo), “from author Sid Shapira and his dog Danny.” Danny is the star of Shapira’s just-published children’s book,”Danny Dog – A rescue dog finds his forever home.” The book is described as “also illustrating the key role pet-rescue organizations play in giving pets a second chance and a forever home.” The author says part of the book’s profits will go to rescue organizations.
10:09 PM: If you have to head eastbound sometime soon, you might consider the low bridge – there’s a multiple-car crash on the high bridge. No injuries, though, according to what we’ve heard via the scanner, so only one fire truck is staying on the call (along with police).
10:39 PM: Drove by about 10 minutes ago. It’s right at the top of the bridge. About half a dozen SPD cars, mostly for visibility/safety so far as we could see, as the scene wasn’t fully visible from a distance. Inside lanes. Tow truck summoned.
11:11 PM: Scene was completely clear when we were on the high bridge headed the other way at the top of the hour.
Development notes:
REVISED DESIGN FOR 3824 CALIFORNIA SW: The 14-townhouse/13-live-work-unit development on the ex-Charlestown Café site goes back to the Southwest Design Review Board next week (as noted here last week), at 6:30 pm Thursday (November 20th), Senior Center of West Seattle. And now, the “packet” showing the newest design proposal is online – see it here. This will be the fourth time the project goes before the board. It changed architects before the third meeting (WSB coverage here), and the new firm, Johnston Architects, remains at the helm.
ALSO GOING BACK TO DESIGN REVIEW, WITH A NEW COMPONENT: 4505 42nd SW, just across the alley from the Senior Center, now described as:
7-story structure containing 50 residential units, 6,900 sq. ft. of lodging use and 3,600 sq. ft. of ground floor retail use. Parking for 15 vehicles to be provided below grade.
No design packet yet; “lodging” was not part of the project in its previous reviews (most recently, seven months ago). It’s just been added to the schedule for the 8 pm December 4th SWDRB slot (following the 6:30 pm review of the assisted-living project at 4515 41st SW).
DELRIDGE SITE IN FOR ‘STREAMLINED DESIGN REVIEW’: 5206 Delridge Way is proposed for a “five-unit townhouse structure” that’s in for streamlined design review, which means no meeting.
7-LOT BEACH DRIVE SITE ON THE MARKET: Just spotted last night in an online listing, seven lots comprising 2 acres of potential homesites at 5606 Beach Drive, listed at $2,432,250.
TEARDOWNS: In the city permitting system, updated over the past week or so: Demolition permits issued or sought for 3810 California SW (aforementioned ex-café site that’s being developed as 3824 California); single-family house at 4035 36th SW (new house to be built); duplex and garage at 5003 Fauntleroy Way SW (7-unit rowhouse to be built); single-family house at 5269 California SW (West Seattle Nursery expansion site); 4500 40th SW (development plan reported here); single-family houses at 2835 and 2837 SW Adams (three-story, 6-unit rowhouse proposed to replace them).
BOUNDARY CHANGES: 5915 Fauntleroy Way, lot-boundary change sought (rowhouse project proposed); 5008 Fauntleroy Way, lot-boundary change sought (rowhouse project proposed and comments being taken).
P.S. – NEW WAY TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING WHERE: The city Department of Planning and Development home page has a map that will show you spots where projects are proposed. But someone outside city government has just come up with an even-better way to take a look at what’s happening where – at least, for now, the larger projects. It’s called Seattle In Progress. Ethan Phelps-Goodman explains it here.
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